Pot Manufacturer Sentenced To 5 Years

A man accused of spearheading one of the area’s larger marijuana rings will spend at least one year in prison, a judge ordered Friday.

James Dahl, formerly of Cataldo, pleaded guilty to felony manufacturing marijuana last year.

On Friday, First District Judge Gary Haman sentenced Dahl to five years in prison. Dahl will be eligible for parole after a year.

In 1992, Idaho Bureau of Narcotics officials raided two homes owned by Dahl, one in Pinehurst and one in Cataldo. They found 1,725 marijuana plants, said Kootenai County Deputy Prosecutor Brian Watkins.

Although Dahl disappeared before the raids, police believe he spearheaded the operation, Watkins said.

Steve Bird and Dick Cooper were arrested at the homes. Bird died a short time later. Cooper pleaded guilty to manufacturing marijuana in 1992 but left town before he could be sentenced, Watkins said. An arrest warrant has been issued.

Officers did not locate Dahl until the spring of 1994, Watkins said.